Your Instructors

Your Directors

Marco Mellone

Director of Instrumental Music
Reagan Educational Center
Director of Bands - Clovis East High School
559-327-4189
marcomellone@cusd.com

Ensemble Duties:
Clovis East Wind Ensemble
Clovis East Marching Band
Clovis East Jazz Ensemble
Clovis East Colorguards

Marco Mellone is the Director of Instrumental Music at the Reagan Educational Center and Director of Bands for Clovis East High School in Clovis, CA. His responsibilities include directing the Clovis East Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, and overseeing all operations of the Reagan Educational Center Instrumental Music Program. The band program has seen increased enrollment and retention, as well an increase in performance level over the past years under his direction. Mr. Mellone was recently awarded the 2021 Distinguished Employee for his contributions to the academic achievement, personal growth, and excellent service to the students and community at the Reagan Educational Center.

Prior to beginning his tenure at the Reagan Educational Center, Mr. Mellone served as the Director of Bands at Edison-Computech Middle School (Fresno, CA) where he directed the four concert bands, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, and oversaw the color guard program. Under his direction, the program grew to a peak of 180 members with all performance ensembles consistently earning several superior ratings and awards.

An active member of the music community, Mr. Mellone serves as a current board member of the California Music Educators Association Central Section and is the band representative for the Fresno Madera Counties Music Educators Association. Marco Mellone also currently serves as Vice President of the Western Bands Association (WBA). Marco Mellone has been involved with the Drum & Bugle Corps activity and been a part of the educational staff and brass instructional team for the Arizona Academy Drum & Bugle Corps of Tempe, Arizona (2019), and The Oregon Crusaders from Portland, Oregon (2018).

Marco graduated from California State University, Fresno with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education (2012) and completed a Masters of Arts in Instrumental Conducting (2019). He likes to spend his free time playing his trombone, traveling, and being with his two German Shepherds, Larry and Luna.

Ali Gilroy Golden

Director of Orchestras
Reagan Educational Center
559-327-4731
aligilroygolden@cusd.com

Ensemble Duties:
Reyburn Concert Band
Reyburn String Orchestras
Reyburn Chamber Orchestra
Clovis East String Orchestra
Clovis East Chamber Orchestra
Clovis East Symphony Orchestra

Alexandra Gilroy Golden received her bachelor's degree, cum laude, in Oboe Performance and Music Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA Ms. Gilroy performed in top ensembles including the UCLA Wind Ensemble, the UCLA Philharmonia and the scholarship woodwind quintet, the Clandestine Quintet. In 2013, Ali completed her Master's in Music, with an emphasis in oboe performance, from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas receiving a full graduate assistantship. Here Ali performed with the UNLV Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Orchestra and Sin City Winds woodwind quintet. She can be heard performing on two of the UNLV Wind Symphony albums, Lost Vegas and Ventanas. Ms. Gilroy began her tenure at the Reagan Educational Center in the fall of 2013. Over the past five years she has the pleasure of directing the Reyburn Marching Band & Guard, the Reyburn Symphonic and Concert Bands, Reybun String and Chamber Orchestras as well as the Clovis East Orchestra. In 2018 Ms. Gilroy was appointed Director of Orchestras and began teaching string ensembles full time at the REC. Ali currently serves as the President on the FMCMEA Board, the Orchestra Representative on the CMEA Central Section Board, and as the Convention Host on the CBDA Board working to plan and coordinate for the California State Convention, CASMEC. Ali continues to perform as a freelance musician and provide private oboe lessons throughout the central valley. Most recently, she was appointed the principal oboist position in the Wind Symphony of Clovis and had the honor of performing at the 2018 Midwest Clinic. Ms. Gilroy Golden currently resides in Clovis, CA with her husband Chris, their daughter Julia and dogs Max & Maple Golden.

Scott Downs

Associate Director of Bands
Reagan Educational Center
559-327-4188
scottdowns@cusd.com

Ensemble Duties:
Reyburn Band PE
Reyburn Concert Band
Reyburn Symphonic Band
Clovis East Symphonic Winds
Reyburn Colorguard

Scott Downs received his B.M. in Music Education and his M.M. in Music Education from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in Stockton, California. During his time at the Conservatory of Music, Mr. Downs studied euphonium and bass trombone with Matt Tropman and Scott Choate. Mr. Downs' past 8 summers have been spent touring and performing with local Drum Corps International corps. Mr. Downs marched with the Sacramento Mandarins on euphonium during the summers of 2010 and 2011, and marched with the Blue Devils "A" Corps from the summer of 2012 until he aged out in 2017 on trombone and euphonium. Mr. Downs was the Blue Devils trombone/euphonium section leader in 2016 and the horn sergeant in 2017. He was additionally a featured soloist on euphonium in their 2015 production, "Ink", and a featured trombone and euphonium soloist in their 2017 production, "Metamorph." Mr. Downs also was an instructor for the Blue Devils "B" Corps hornline in 2018 and 2019. In his free time, Mr. Downs enjoys going skiing with his friends, riding his motorcycle, or riding his mountain bike.

Levi Dougherty

Director of Percussion
Reagan Educational Center
559-327-4189
levidougherty@cusd.com

Ensemble Duties:
Reyburn Band PE
Reyburn Percussion
Reyburn Advanced Percussion
Clovis East Percussion Ensemble
Clovis East Winter Drumline

Levi Dougherty received his B.A. in Music Education from California State University, Fresno. While at Fresno State, Levi studied percussion under Matthew Darling and performed in the top ensembles every semester including the Wind Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble. Levi has also marched with various marching ensembles including Golden Empire Drum and Bugle Corps, Valley Independent Percussion, and the Fresno State Marching Band. Mr. Dougherty began his tenure as a director at the Reagan Educational Center in 2018. He currently oversees the percussion programs at both Reyburn Intermediate School and Clovis East High School.

Devinda Gunasekara

Associate Director of Orchestras
Reagan Educational Center
559-327-4731
devindagunasekara@cusd.com

Ensemble Duties:
Reyburn String Orchestras
Clovis East String Orchestra
Clovis East Chamber Orchestra

Photo and bio coming soon!

Our Elementary School Instrumental Music Teachers

Steve Maldonado

Rebecca Monson

Elementary Band
stevemaldonado@cusd.com

Elementary Band
rebeccamonson@cusd.com

Nayoung Ryoo

Chee Vang

Elementary Strings
nayoungryoo@cusd.com

Elementary Strings
cheevang@cusd.com

Our Percussion Team

Ray Rivera at DCI Championships 2017

Mark Tripp
Clovis East Front Ensemble

Mark Tripp graduated from Clovis High School in 2018. Throughout his time at Clovis High, Mark's primary instrument was the oboe. Mr. Tripp participated in fall marching band season as well as winter percussion as a memeber of Clovis High's front ensemble. During the summer of 2018 Mark marched with Blue Devils B and later, in 2019, he competed with Dark Sky Percussion. Currently, Mark teaches and writes with the Edison High School front ensemble part time. Mr. Tripp excitedly joined the Clovis East Percussion team in the Fall of 2019. Mark enjoys spending his time working, teaching, and writing music.

Ray Rivera
Clovis East Battery Tech- Tenors

Ray Rivera graduated from Tulare Union High School in 2012. He marched Valley Independent Percussion in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016. In 2015 and 2016 Ray served as the tenor drums section leader. Mr. Rivera marching Blue Devils B Corps in the summers of 2015 and as section leader in 2016. Last season, in 2017 Ray marched in Bakersfield College Indoor. Ray has taught throughout the central valley for the past six years include Live Oak Middle School, Exeter Union High School, Buchanan High School, Glacier Point Middle School and Central High School. Mr. Rivera joined the REC Percussion team in 2015. He has been working at Reyburn Intermediate School as the Caption Head for the Drumline and with Clovis East High School's tenor drums section. In addition to his work with schools, Ray teaches privately throughout the central valley. Mr. Rivera is currently a student at Fresno City College majoring in Music Education and Mathematics. He plans to transfer to Fresno State to continue his work towards a degree.

Marco Duarte
Clovis East Battery Tech- Snares

Pic and Bio coming soon

Kenneth Xiong
Clovis East Batter Tech- Basses

Pic and Bio coming soon.

Our Guard Team

Gabriel Hernandez
Color Guard Caption Head
Reagan Educational Center

Pic and Bio Coming Soon.

Elizabeth Grijalva
Color Guard Instructor
Reyburn Intermediate

Pic and Bio Coming Soon.

Mercedes Trejo
Color Guard Instructor
Emeralds Elementary Guard/Clovis East High School

Pic and Bio Coming Soon.

Our String Faculty

Lianna Elmore - (559) 905-2102 - liastu@gmail.com

Lianna Elmore
Violin

Lianna Elmore began studying violin at age 5 with her mother Cynthia Stuart. She has gone on to study under Claudia Shiuh, Jassen Todorov, Zakarias Grafilo, and Dr. Limor Toren-Immerman at Fresno State where she earned her B.A. and M.A. in music performance. She currently plays with the Fresno Philharmonic and the Tulare County Symphony and is a principal violinist for the chamber music group, Moment Musical. Mrs. Elmore coaches for the Youth Orchestras of Fresno, teaches the after-school violin program, "Accent on Access" at Madison Elementary, and has a growing studio of private students. Most recently, Mrs. Elmore won a full time violin seat with the Fresno Philharmonic and is one of the founding members of The Tower Quartet, a Fresno based string quartet.

Derek Stewart

Emma Hill - emjen1124@gmail.com

Derek Stewart
Viola

Bio Coming Soon.

Emma Hill
Cello

Emma Hill is an accomplished cellist who has a rich experience as a chamber musician and orchestral player. Raised in Fresno, she began cello lessons at age 9 and studied with Dr. Thomas Loewenheim throughout middle and high school. She has participated in numerous orchestral and chamber music festivals including Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, FOOSA, Cello|Fresno, and Music in the Mountains, and has performed in masterclasses for Brinton Smith, Phillipe Muller, Lynn Harrell, and more. As a soloist, she has won several competitions including the senior division of the CalASTA State Solo Competition and the Fresno State Concerto Competition. She is active in her community as a chamber musician, cello teacher, and volunteer. She graduated from Fresno State in May 2021 with her bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and began the master’s program in August.

Jana White
String Bass

Bio Coming Soon!

Congratulations to Miss Topaldjiakian and best wishes on your new adventure as an
Elementary Strings teacher in the Clovis West area!
Congratulations to Mr. Marrero and best wishes on your next adventure as a graduate student in at UNR in Reno, Nevada!
YOU BOTH WILL BE MISSED!